Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-01-22
THROWN FROM TEE TRACK.
A Passenger Train Thrown Down al
EmbsnkmeRt.
The Engineer Killed and Somc Probably
Fatally Hurt.

Tuesday night al midnight, while the
fouth-bouud passenger train on the Missouri
Pacific was approaching Dunbar, Neb,, thirty
miles east Of Lincoln, at s speed Of thirty
miles Al hour, the engine left tue track with
out warning aud went plunging down a high
and steep e~ubaukment, followed by every ear
on the train. The express car turned over
three times and stopped 1870 feet from the
track. The passenger car and sleeper both
went over once as they descended tue bank.
Engineer Dewitt was Instantly killed and
sinncd TO the ground by the lever, which pen
etrated Ills body. The fireman was only
slightly hurt. Frank Chenwnrth, the express
messenger, was badly bruised about the head
and body ano dangerously hurt. The bag
gsgeman, name not known, was considerably
hurt. One LADY, name not known, who
bought a ticket from Lincoln, WAS badly hurt,
and an unknown man had mis- head severely
cut by glass. There were about forty paseeu-
gers ON the train and their escape from worse
hurts was miraculous.
The cause OF the wreck was very clear.
SOflt vIlliauuus WretChcR had broken uuen
the house and taken out tools with which they
detached the tish-hars and drew the spikes on
the vest rails. The drAW-bHr was left lylrP
near the traces, and a farmer near hy saw three
men runniL away from the scene of tn
wreck Just after IS occurred. There had hecu
three suspicious characters about Dunbar and
vicinity FOX several days, making u uret"use of
peddlipg, and they had disappeared that morn
ing, aud ft IN geuerally concluded that they
did The deyiii-h work. A posse was az once
organized and ,aa country Is being secured
closely. The livery men put every horse they
had at the dispotal OF Il, posse.
Superintendent Daily was on the train. He
seized an axe, and as soon rs the ears stopped
rolling cut his way out, liherating the other
passengers. He directed a vigorous pursuit
OF the wrcckcrs and made immediate provis-
ion for caring fer the dead and wouNded.
A the cars all left the trackthvrc was little
10 Go 10 prepare II for the passage OF trains.
The train from Lincoln went down and took
the passengers on their way. The wounded
We're taken 10 Kansas City. The inquest on
the dead engineer was held at Dunbar Tues
day. His remains will be taken to Wyandotte,
Kan, where he resided, for burial.
The most intense excitement prevails, and
If the wreckers are caught ii will 20 hard with
them.
A. A. Davis. Pacific Exoress messenger,
went down from Weeping Water and assisted
In caring for the wounded. 1t is not known
whether the object OF the crime WAS robbery
or revenge.
The corouer's jury held an inquest over the
remains Of Engineer Dewitt, Killed in the
wreck near Dunbar Tuesday night, and re-
turned a verdict that the deceased come to his
death by reason OF the engine jumping from
the track caused by a misplaced rail, and that
the jury believed David Hoffman, of Dunbar,
ard James Bel, OF Un8dilla, and Others To
have been the parties concerned. Hoffman
and Bell were arrested and taken TO Nebraska
City and lodged In Jail.